Economic Networkingâ€Exploring Alternatives for Promoting Sustainable De

Economic NetworkingExploring Alternatives for Promoting Sustainable Development in Africa INTRODUCTIONThe biography of European aid intervention in the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states has traditionally acted to reinforce the hierarchical distinction between the developed and the developing world. The series of Lome Conventions which given preferential trade agreements between these groups of countries endure proved ineffective in encouraging economic sustainability in the ACP states, and although the ACP includes most of the Least Developed Countries (LLDCs) in the world, the agreements have been criticized as being unfair in the global context. Under pressure to negotiate a new ACP-EU agreement that would be consistent with World occupation Organization (WTO) regulations, and improve on the limitations of the previous Lome Conventions, the Cotonou Convention was signed in 2000, after arduous negotiations. Despite this agreement, the future of ACP-EU relations is some what vague. peculiarly with respect to Africa, this uncertainty leaves room for evaluation of the effectiveness of the past agreements and an objective analysis of the motives behind previous economic ties. Furthermore, by analyzing the problematic history of European aid to Africa, there emerges a basis for shifting away from the neo-colonialist relationships that characterized most of the past agreements, and exploring the benefits of creating alternative partnerships. Ultimately, the possibility of forming partnerships amongst individual ACP countries and between other developing countries is an unnoted idea that should be further explored.A Historical PerspectiveAfrican economic development is a subject of wide interest. Amongst the ... ...2 October 2003 Kwarteng, Charles O. Africa and the European Challenge. Vermont Ashgate Publishing Company. 1997.The youthful Partnership for Africas Development. October 2001. Overseas Development Institute. Reshaping European partnerships what future for the ACP? Meeting September 2003.http//www.odi.org.uk/speeches/edc_2010/meeting_report_17september.htmlThe World Bank Group. World Development Indicators Database Country Profile Table. 11 March 2004 .The World Bank Group. 2003 World Development Indicators. 11 March 2004. .Economic Community of West African States. About ECOWAS. 11 March 2004. .